Dag 66: Nogsteeds in Noakchott

(English Translation Below)

Dag 66: Nogsteeds in Noakchott
 
Ons word genooi om by die TLC International School met die kinders te kom gesels oor ons reis. Oppad na die skool toe, soos wat ons nou die afgelope twee dae in Nouakchott gewoond geraak het, moet ons katvoet-ry want padreels word hier op 'n manier geinterpreteer wat ons nie verstaan nie. Dit kom neer op: Ry soos jy wil. Wat dit nog moeiliker maak, is die dik sand oral. Jy ry nou op 'n teerpad, draai af in 'n systraat wat van sandduin gemaak is, dan weer teerpad, dan weer diksand.
 
Nietemin, ons kom in een stuk by die skool aan en gesels 'n wyle met die skoolhoof en stigter voordat die kinders begin opdaag. Seker so 'n 100 van hulle. Graad 6 - 12. Ons sit agter 'n tafel in wat soos die kafeteria-saal lyk, en die kinders rondom tafels die res van die saal vol. Dit kyk en wys en giggel.
 
Faldi, ons kontak via die Suid-Afrikaanse ambassade, wie 'n onderwyser hier is, stel ons voor. Ons elkeen gee 'n kort inleiding oor ons agtergrond en ervaring van die reis, en nooi hulle uit om vrae te vra. Dis makliker om te weet waarop om te fokus as mense vrae vra. 'n Splitsekonde se 'sênou niemand vra iets nie' flits in ons verby, maar dan gaan al die hande omtrent gelyk op. Kleintjies en grotes. Seuns en meisies. Die seuns in T-hemde en sandale soos in enige Amerikaanse skool. Die meisies in veelkleurige hijabs. Wakker en gretig om te leer.
 
Het julle ooit verdwaal?
Geval en seergekry?
Wou mense julle ooit beroof of skade aandoen?
Watter emosies het julle ervaar tot dusver?
Hoe hou julle kop tussen al die geldeenhede van die verskillende lande?
As julle klaar is met die reis, na watter lande sou julle graag wil terugkom?
 
Die uur vlieg verby. 'n Dag van wag-vir-ons-grensoorgang het skielik 'n inspirerende wending geneem. Toe die sessie verby is drom die kinders om ons saam. Nog vrae. Een dogtertjie, seker so twaalf, kom staan by De Witt. Vra een vraag na die ander. Beïndruk hom geweldig met hoe sy dink.
 
Môre ry ons verder Noord. As alles goed gaan, sal ons altesaam omtrent 20 000km agter ons hê van Pretoria na Rotterdam. Dis verder as van London na Beijing. 'n Wêreld wat deur grootmense aanmekaargesit is en beheer word. Maar waarbinne die hoop en drome van kinders tog om hemelsnaam nie uitgedoof moet word nie. As ons tog net 'n bietjie na hulle wou luister.
 
Day 66: Still in Nouakchott
 
We are invited to speak about our journey at the TLC International School. On the way to the school, as we've become accustomed to over the past two days in Nouakchott, we must drive cautiously because traffic rules here are interpreted in a way that we don't grasp. It boils down to: Drive as you wish. What makes it even more challenging is the thick sand everywhere. You might be on an asphalt road, turn into a side street made of sand dune, then back to asphalt, then into deep sand again.
 
Nevertheless, we arrive at the school in one piece and chat for a while with the headmaster and founder before the children start to arrive. Around 100 of them, from grades 6 to 12. We sit behind a table in what looks like the cafeteria hall, and the children are seated at tables filling the rest of the hall. They look, point, and giggle.
 
Faldi, our contact via the South African embassy, who is a teacher here, introduces us. Each of us gives a brief introduction about our background and experience of the journey, inviting them to ask questions. It's easier to know what to focus on when people ask questions. For a split second, the thought flashes in us, 'Maybe no one will ask anything,' but then almost all the hands go up simultaneously. Little ones and big ones. Boys and girls. The boys in T-shirts and sandals like in any American school. The girls in colourful hijabs. Eager and keen to learn.
 
Have you ever gotten lost?
Fell and got hurt?
Have people ever tried to rob or harm you?
What emotions have you experienced so far?
How do you keep track among all the different currencies of the countries?
When you finish the journey, which countries would you like to come back to?
 
The hour flies by. A day of waiting for our border crossing has suddenly taken an inspiring turn. When the session is over, the children gather around us. More questions. One girl, maybe twelve, stands by De Witt. Asks one question after another. Impresses him immensely with her way of thinking.
 
Tomorrow, we continue north. If all goes well, we will have covered about 20,000 km from Pretoria to Rotterdam. That's farther than from London to Beijing. A world put together and controlled by adults. But within which the hopes and dreams of children should for heavens' sake not be extinguished. If only we would listen to them a little more.

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